Brian Review: Spare and Found Parts by Sarah Maria Griffin

Title:  Spare and Found Parts

Author: Sarah Maria Griffin

Published On: 10/04/16

Page Count: 384

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

Nell Crane has always been an outsider. In a city devastated by an epidemic, where survivors are all missing parts—an arm, a leg, an eye—her father is the famed scientist who created the biomechanical limbs everyone now uses. But Nell is the only one whose mechanical piece is on the inside: her heart. Since the childhood operation, she has ticked. Like a clock, like a bomb. As her community rebuilds, everyone is expected to contribute to the society’s good . . . but how can Nell live up to her father’s revolutionary idea when she has none of her own?

Then she finds a mannequin hand while salvaging on the beach—the first boy’s hand she’s ever held—and inspiration strikes. Can Nell build her own companion in a world that fears advanced technology? The deeper she sinks into this plan, the more she learns about her city—and her father, who is hiding secret experiments of his own.

Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5

I had no idea what this book was about going in. I took a look at the cover when it was handed to me and just dove in. The story I found was definitely better than I was expecting. There was a lot of symbolism and meaning in between each line, and I felt that it was able to hit an emotional level that I could really appreciate. Every character has the potential to be great and terrible, joyful and extremely depressing. After I finished, I felt better for having read it.

Cover: 3.5 / 5

Typically I am a big fan of off the wall covers, and when the cover artist tries to depict the meaning of the story through more interpretive designs. However, I felt that this book did enough of that on its own, and there was so much going on in this world that I would’ve appreciated seeing a picture of the artists take on the surroundings the characters were in for this story. A more traditional cover might have been better here, at least for me. The cover they chose was interesting, with a good idea behind the design.

Characters: 4.5 / 5

I really appreciated the depth in the characters for this story. Even characters you didn’t directly interact with often seemed to have their own unique voice.

Nell: The antagonist, and girl our story revolves around. Nell has a lot of inner turmoil and considers herself to be a step removed from everyone around her, including her closest friends. She doesn’t make much effort to fit in, which I appreciated, because it let her be herself. When she finally finds something she is passionate about she refuses to let anyone stand in her way, and does anything necessary to accomplish her goal for better or worse.

Ruby: Nell’s closest friend, Ruby is much more down to earth and approachable than Nell will ever be. She is sweet and kind, and tries to help Nell integrate with their society as much as she will allow, but knows she can only take her so far. Ruby came off as somewhat predictable, but most best friends are like that, and it didn’t detract from the story.

Julian: Nell’s father, the great biochemist / scientist / doctor. You hear a lot about how wonderful Dr. Crane is for his contributions to society, helping to replace lost limbs and parts for members of the town while he spends a majority of the story locked away in his lab. There is always a shadow of doubt, however, on the good doctor’s true intentions.

Plot: 5/5

This story has a lot of deeper meaning, in that if you read everything and take all the words at face value, you’re missing out on half of the story. I felt like it was reaching out to so many different types of people at once, and that there was a character or plot twist for everyone. The book itself can be broken down into fairly simple lines; ‘A post apocalyptic society is recovering from devastation and plague caused by artificial intelligence, watch what happens when some of the old technology is discovered and revived.’ However, there are so many layers to each character and the actions they take, I found myself re reading pages to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.


~Brian

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Guest Review: Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Stalking Jack the Ripper

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Published On: 9/20/2016

Page Count: 320

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

Overall Rating:

Cover: Normally I am one who doesn’t care much for book covers, however this is one of the few I like. I love the gloomy depiction of Victorian London on the bottom half of the cover and I appreciate the slight smirk the subject on the top half has while holding her knife.

Characters:

Many things are expected of a young high born lady in Victorian London, performing dissections and autopsies are not among them. That doesn’t stop Audrey Rose Wadsworth however. Her strong willed nature and disdain for the gender norms lead her to forge her own path and demand more from life than society would willingly give.

What do with your time when you will inherit title, wealth and responsibility from your father? You dabble and comb your hair. At least this is what Nathaniel Wadsworth, brother to Audrey Rose, chose to do. I initially felt like his character was that of a cat exploring a new room. Looking at something, maybe playing with it a little, then moving on to the next thing. However as we get to know Nathaniel better, we see that he is driven by a strong love of his sister and mother.

Lord Wadsworth is a man who is wrought with guilt and anger. These created rifts between him and his family in one form or another. Despite the rifts, guilt and anger however; he is a man who deeply loves his children and only wants to protect them.

Uncle Jonathan is a brilliant forensic scientist and mentor to Audrey Rose. When she wanted to learn the science Uncle Jonathan taught her and held high expectations for her work. It is through him that Audrey Rose begins her investigation, and meets Thomas.

Thomas Cresswell can best be described by Audrey Rose. “His eyes are golden brown when he’s intrigued by something. He’s regal looking and handsome, but more interested in formulas and solving crimes than he is in… … poetry. He acts devilishly warm one moment, then frigid the next, … His arrogance is also … Annoying.” Thomas also has a great deal of care for those he is close to, though it is a subtle care.

Plot:

Deception and misdirection, the challenge of proving one’s self despite societal preconceptions, and a little boy annoys girl romance all in Victorian London during the heyday of Jack the Ripper. The story follows the MC Audrey Rose as she searches for the truth behind a string of savage killings plaguing London while trying to prove herself a forensic scientist in a male dominated world.

Quote:

“I dreamed of a day when girls could wear lace and makeup-or no makeup at all and don burlap sacks if they desired-to their chosen profession without it being deemed inappropriate.”

We’re all stories in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?

~Aslan

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Review: And The Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich

And The Trees Crept In

AKA The Creeper Man

Author: Dawn Kurtagich
Release Date: 9/6/16
Page Count: 352
Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

When Silla and Nori arrive at their aunt's home, it's immediately clear that the "blood manor" is cursed. The creaking of the house and the stillness of the woods surrounding them would be enough of a sign, but there are secrets too--the questions that Silla can't ignore: Who is the beautiful boy that's appeared from the woods? Who is the man that her little sister sees, but no one else? And why does it seem that, ever since they arrived, the trees have been creeping closer?

Cover:4/5

I love the US cover so much. It really fits into the contents of the novel. I will say that the cover model falling does look similar to a few other YA book covers tat have come out recently.

Characters: 4/5

Silla`s guilt and hate for everything was so strong. I was waiting for the self-harm moment to come besides the not eating. She fails but pushes forward because of Nori, Aunt Cath and Gowen. She feels the need to save everyone that she doesn't care for herself at all.

Nori is so sweet and pure yet twisted and cunning. I never truly understood the crippled part of her but slowly Nori grew on me. She was there as a crutch for Silla to care for as sisters are.

Aunt Cath aka Crazy Auntie Cath really is crazy and cryptic. From the get go she is a sweet joyful lady just trying to protect the girls and raise them to be better than the environment that they came from. She want to teach the girls how to protect themselves but does not succeed in the educational sense.

Gowen is very patient and extremely persistent. He is the true definition of love and you don't learn it until you read it for yourself. He never solves Silla`s problems for her just pushes her to find her own way.

Plot: 5/5

Dawn has done it again by creating a story within a story. The descriptions of both house and terror was chilling to read out loud to my parents. This is definitely more mentally emotional than The Dead House is. By reading it out out I was able to give the characters a voice and listen to them grown not just in my head. Wha would you do if you were stuck in house sinking and surrounded by trees?

Overall Thoughts: 4/5

I read this out out for 3 days, roughly 11 hours of my voice going dead. My mom was full of guesses but we pressed on to the end. The format is a little hard to read out loud but in your head it should be fairly simple. I like the journal entries the most and would always shift my voice to fit the sections.

TTFN,
Ashley

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Brian's Review: Jerkbait by Mia Siegert

Jerkbait

Author: Mia Siegert

Published On: 5/10/2016

Page Count: 244

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

Even though they're identical, Tristan isn't close to his twin Robbie at all—until Robbie tries to kill himself.

Forced to share a room to prevent Robbie from hurting himself, the brothers begin to feel the weight of each other's lives on the ice, and off.

 

Overall Rating: 4/5

This was a great story, but can be difficult to read. There is a lot of controversial subject matter and tough situations, and you should intend to read it with an open mind. One big gripe I did have was that I think too much of the plot was spoiled in the synopsis, and luckily I was able to avoid that and go in blind. I have only included a small portion of it in this review, and would highly recommend reading it with as little information as possible to get the full effect.

Cover: 3.5 / 5

The cover is interesting, and simplistic. I do like the color scheme as well, however I don’t get much of a tie in to what the book is about. I like my covers to give me a sneak peek into what I’m getting into, and the cover just didn’t do that for me.

Characters: 4/5

Tristan: The younger twin, who always feels like he’s living in the shadow of his brother. Tristan is the antagonist, and a very interesting character. He has a quiet strength about him that allows him to keep going through incredibly difficult situations with his family. His parents are very focused on his twin’s success and aren’t very subtle about putting Robbie before Tristan most of the time. He helps his brother with hockey and with his emotional problems every step of the way, without complaint (mostly). Tristan has to endure a lot of his own hardships in this book and still manages to put others before himself, which is a quality not many people possess.

Robbie: The star of the hockey team weighted down by the hopes and dreams of his father, the expectations of his coach and team, and the pressure of his peers at school. Robbie really just wants to live his own life, though he does love hockey. He cares for his brother, and hates when Tristan gets wrapped up in taking care of him or catches the collateral damage when his father gets angry at him and spills over to include Tristan. He doesn’t seem to know why he is trying to hurt himself, and just passes it off as something he was trying. You can feel that there is a deep seeded pain there, but he can’t even bring himself to talk about it with his twin.

Mom & Dad: A rarity in the YA novels I’ve read, this story actually has parents in it. Unfortunately the parents in this story barely qualify. The father is extremely focused on living out his dream of playing professional hockey through his son, and all else is secondary. He makes sure Robbie is focused on the goal of being drafted highly out of school, and is completely single minded toward this goal, including not taking his son to therapy because it would hurt his chances if word got out. Mom isn’t much better, she backs up Dad at every turn, and seems to have her own issues and prejudices throughout the story. It was very difficult to read about someone going through such a difficult time and the people they should be able to count on the most completely failing them.

Plot: 4.5 / 5

This story is not for the faint of heart. It deals with real issues - peer pressure, sexual orientation, and suicide. You can root for the underdog but, chances are he might just keep getting kicked while he’s down. This story isn’t completely without hope, however. The characters felt real, and you get to understand just how difficult it can be for anyone, whether you’re the guy everyone loves and looks up to, or the social outcast. No matter how many terrible things happened, I still found myself turning the page, waiting to find out what happened next.

Quotes:

“No one ever let things go until someone died. Then the bullies were magically the recently deceased’s best friends. I’m going to miss him so much. He was like a brother to me. We were just joking, you know?

  Because everyone always joked when it was all over. No one wanted to accept responsibility, accept the blame when things became permanent, irreversible.  

  Suicide.

- Mia Siegert - Jerkbait

Until next time,

Brian

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Brian Review: Revenge and The Wild by Michelle Modesto

Revenge and the Wild

Author: Michelle Modesto

Published On: 2/2/16

Page Count: 384

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler.

Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. She’s determined to make the killers pay for their crimes—and there’s nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways.

But Westie’s search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigel’s latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from gold—which Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. There’s only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westie’s kin. With the help of Nigel’s handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if she’s not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Cover: 4/5

I really love the font used for this cover. It works with the cover art and background and altogether tells an interesting story. I usually don’t like quotes used on a book cover, but this one works very well to set the tone for the book before you open it.

Characters: 4/5

Westie: The main protagonist, Westie was a very interesting character. She is constantly struggling to overcome her past and it feels like she spends most of the novel trying to adjust. She never really got over the traumatic events of her childhood and would rather chase the ghosts of her family’s murderers than try to fit in at home.

Alistair: Another character with a tragic past, Alistair can only speak with the help of a machine created by his and Westie’s makeshift adopted father, Nigel. He grew up with Westie after being saved from cannibals, and their friendship brought them close, though their current feelings for each other are somewhat awkward. Alistair is a classic strong and silent type, always looking to protect Westie when he can, and help Nigel with his inventions.

Plot: 3.5 / 5

I need to start by saying I really enjoyed reading through this book. The story was interesting, the characters had depth and were likable, and I would absolutely recommend anyone interested in picking up this book. The only gripe I had was that the story itself felt a bit cluttered. The creatures in the book, aside from a select few, seemed tossed in for no real reason. I think that either having a few different types of creatures in the story, or having more pages to flesh out the numerous races would have made the story more enjoyable for me. While I’m trying to reconcile werewolves, vampires, fae, and goblins, Westie will turn the corner and run into a banshee and an orc. It was a bit too much for me. All of that aside, I don’t believe that it detracted from the book that much, and it was a very fun and fast read.

~Brian

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Boyfriend Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus

By: Erin Morgenstern

Published: 9/13/2011 by Doubleday

Pages: 512

Synopsis: (found on goodreads)

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.

Overall Rating: 4 / 5 Stars – Thoroughly enjoyed the book though some parts were a little confusing.

Cover: 5 / 5 Stars  -  Excellent color scheme, intentional lack of detail and just enough mystery.

The Night Circus a very unique blend of romance with different types of fantasy. A circus is always supposed to be a fantastic and whimsical place, but when you add magic into the mix, it takes it to an entirely different level. This book speaks from the viewpoint of a few different characters throughout, but also takes the time to tell you a story through the eyes of an unnamed visitor to the Night Circus. Experiencing the Cirque de Reves from a first person viewpoint gave a different perspective that helped to become immersed in the story. I would recommend reading this story, and will probably read it again someday myself.

One of the most enjoyable parts of this book is the development of the characters. The story revolves around Marco and Celia, two very gifted individuals with unseen ties to the Circus and to each other. The growth of these two; from their very different childhoods and through the separate paths that lead them both to their shared destiny is very interesting and detailed. Their journey at times seems forced upon them, even though the choices they make are uniquely their own. Although they are both set up to be on opposite sides of a decades-long competition, you find yourself rooting for them both. The circus itself is also full of entertaining characters with personalities and histories that you sometimes forget that their stories are secondary to the two at the center.

The main story arc in this book revolves around the discovery and grooming of Marco and Celia to be players in a contest that is mostly unexplained throughout. They will be pitted against each other, the battleground is a Circus, but the rest is unknown. There is magic, mystery, and romance around every tent and attraction, and new performers and circus visitors to meet in almost every chapter. This story held my interest from beginning to end, and though some pieces were a little confusing at times, I will enjoy reading it again to look for parts I might have missed on my first time through.

“You think, as you walk away from Le Cirque des Rêves and into the creeping dawn, that you felt more awake within the confines of the circus. You are no longer quite certain which side of the fence is the dream.”

― Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus

~Brian

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Interview and Review: After the Woods by Kim Savage

After The Woods

Author: Kim Savage

Published On: 2/23/16

Publisher: Farrar,Straus and Giroux

Page Count: 320
I received an ARC of this in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

Would you risk your life to save your best friend? 
Julia did. When a paroled predator attacked Liv in the woods, Julia fought back and got caught. Liv ran, leaving Julia in the woods for a terrifying 48 hours that she remembers only in flashbacks. One year later, Liv seems bent on self-destruction, starving herself, doing drugs, and hooking up with a violent new boyfriend. A dead girl turns up in those same woods, and Julia’s memories resurface alongside clues unearthed by an ambitious reporter that link the girl to Julia’s abductor. As the devastating truth becomes clear, Julia realizes that after the woods was just the beginning.

Cover:4/5

I`m not a fan of people on covers but this blends with the story nicely. I`m not quite sure if this portrays Julia like I imagine her. That font though is awesome and very stick like.

Characters: 3.5/5

Julia does something that even I couldn't do and for that it makes her brave. Even though she went through this traumatic event she wants to solve the new problem.

Liv seems to have taken a 180 since after the accident and that has to be hard on everyone around her. Yes she has her reasons but there is no condoning what she has done.

Plot: 5/5
This is where it gets tricky. All I can say is Julia is dead set on figuring out if the new dead girl is linked to her attacker. Liv and family want Julia to drop it but this is her way of coping.

Overall Rating: 4/5
Overall I believe Kim writes an amazing psychological thriller based on two best friends who only would risk their life

Goodies: Enjoy this spooky interview with the lovely Kim Savage

Currently who is your favorite author? 

Are there actual humans who can limit it to one? Impossible. But the (not so) short list includes Donna Tartt, Dickens, Jeffrey Eugenides, Gillian Flynn, Neil Gaiman, Lev Grossman, and Karen Russell. As for straight-up YA: Lynn Weingarten knocks my socks off. 

What is your current read?

Because I’m revising Novel 2 , I'm re-reading Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca. I always have a touchstone book while I’m working, and deconstructing Rebecca is like taking a master class in suspense. Part of it, of course, is pure indulgence. Rebecca has it all: spooky mansion, mad woman in the attic, obsessive love, and an unnamed narrator telling you all about it, Dear Reader-style. What’s not to love?

What book would suggest to be on the lookout for besides yours? 

I’m obsessed with getting my hands on three: The Girl Who Fell by Shannon Parker, Under Water by Marisa Reichart, and The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner. They’re all right up my reading-alley, in different ways. That said, there are so many insanely good-looking debuts coming out in 2016. Check out the Sweet 16s https://thesweetsixteens.wordpress.com/authors/ and prepare to be dazzled. 

What age did you start writing?

Like 4 or 5. Year ago, my parents sold their house and handed down to me the evolution of my novel writing: a pile of moth-eaten construction paper covers with lined pages and staples up the sides. My favorite topics were our dog, Gretchen, and a trouble-seeking baby named Jill. The conflict was always presented by page 2, whether it was an inconvenient hurricane or a carny ride gone out of control. Not a bad model, when you think about it. 

How long did you take you to get picked up by a publisher?

AFTER THE WOODS was on sub for about two weeks, and got bought by FSG in a pre-empt. Basically, my agent, Sara Crowe, is magical. Like, sparkly fairy-dust magical. Getting ATW into shape to query agents: that’s a much longer story.

TTFN,

Ashley

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Review: Revenge and The Wild by Michelle Modesto

Revenge and The Wild

Author: Michelle Modesto

Published On: 2/2/16

Page Count: 384

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler.
Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her.

Overall Rating: 4/5

At first I was worried because of the amount of creatures named in the first few chapters. The info dumping ended by chapter 3 and made a lot of sense thanks to the chapters that followed. I fell for Alastair because I knew within an instant he would sacrifice anything to keep Westie safe. (Wasn't a spoiler I promise)
I can't wait to go to the launch of this awesome book.

Cover: 5/5

The western style is awesome as is the burning swoopy font. Overall this cover is gorgeous and I can`t wait to get my hands on the finished copy.

Characters: 4.5/5

Westie: This girl is dead set on finding the people who killed her family. She will stop at nothing and I think that is terrifying. She has lost so much and doesn`t realize that she has other people who care about her to lose as well.

Nigel: He never had to be a father figure if he didn`t want to yet he took in a girl with a handicap he wasn`t sure he could ever fix. Then he was challenged by taking in another young man who would have been left to die by any other person. Nigel is strong and just wants whats best for those he cares about.

Alistair: Move over Logan I think Alistair Is going to be my newest book BF. He is honest and even with a face hidden behind a mask you can understand and feel what he feels for Westie long before she realizes it. The playful teasing and his reaction to Westie growing up.

Plot: 4/5

Everyone is terrified by the girl with the mechanical arm both creature and human alike. Westie is set on revenge. Out to kill the cannibals that are her family. She might have a safer life now than she did trying to cross over to California. There are some people about to enter her little bubble and make the world she knows come crashing down. There are twists and turns that you won't see coming and other that become easy to predict like the handsome Alistair the young man behind the metal mask.

Give this book a chance and don't let it go undetected. I want this book to have so much hype so others will pick it up out of sheer curiosity.

TTFN,

Ashley

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